Receptacle clamp

ABSTRACT

A clamp for removably securing a receptacle to an article comprising a receptacle with a substantially U-shaped frame secured to the receptacle. A spring arm and cam drive are rotatably mounted to the frame with the cam drive comprising a cam, and a cam lever secured to the cam, the lever being adapted to rotate the cam against the spring arm to engage the article. A locking device is mounted to the frame to hold the clamp in a fixed position.

United States Patent Bryant Sept. 23, 1975 [5 RECEPTACLE CLAMP 2.584.955 2/1952 Williams 24/250 0 'k' [76] Inventor: Clyde C. Bryant, 1920 Forrest Ave., 3 835 1 Pal m 24/250 East Point, Ga. 30344 Primary Examiner-R0bert J. Spar [22] Flled: May 1973 Assistant Examiner-Ross Weaver [21] Appl. No.1 356,804 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gipple & Hale [52] US. Cl. 224/2 B; 24/3 R; 24/250; ABSTRACT 51 I Cl 2 224/2 A clamp for'removably securing a receptacle to an arl 2 D ticle comprising a receptacle with a substantially U- l 1 0 care 6 2 shaped frame secured to the receptacle. A spring arm I /3 5 3 170 and cam drive are rotatably mounted to the frame with the cam drive comprising a cam. and a cam lever [56] References cued secured to thecam, the lever being adapted to rotate UNITED STATES PATENTS the cam against the spring arm to engage the article. A 118,228 8/1871 Frey 224/2 B locking device is mounted to the frame to hold the 1,768,596 7/1930 Gowen 24/170 clamp in a fixed position. 2,138,978 12/1938 Meine 224/2 B 2,551,515 5/1951 Tschirf 24/3 L 4 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 01 2 3,907,182

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,907,182

RECEPTACLE CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to fastener clamps and more particularly pertains to fastener clamps utilized to removably secure holsters, sheaths and similar receptacleson a belt, strap or garment worn by an individual.

The invention provides a novel clamp apparatus for releasably locking a receptacle such as a gun holster or sheath for a knife', axe, or other implement on a strap or garment to prevent the accidental displacement or removal of the receptacle from its position while at the same time being so constructed as to permit'the receptacle to be easily removed or mounted on the strap or garment without loosening, removing or substantially disturbing the strap, or garment. In addition, the receptacle clamp of the invention is extremely difficult to detach from a mounted position by pulling, turning, or twisting the mounted receptacle. The receptacle and clamp apparatus is easy to mount to the person of a wearer and easy to detach from such a mounted position 'on' parts of clothing such as pants, tops, coat linings, breast pockets, underwear, leg straps and shoulder straps. The invention will also lock on another object such as the sun visor of a car, under the dash or in other suitable places.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the prior art it has previously been necessary to provide sheaths, and gun holsters with mounting means by means of which the receptacle is mounted to the person of the wearer through a belt or strap passing through a closed loop. Such an arrangement necessitates the loosening of the open end of the belt or strap to mount or remove the receptacle from the person and limits the areas on which a receptacle could be carried and/or mounted.

Various individuals tried to overcome the problems with different types of apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,307,655, discloses a holster having semicircular catches on the front of the attaching member to fasten the attaching member to a holster. Releasable clamping mechanisms were utilized to mount various receptacles as is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,046,912 and 2,138,978, the latter disclosing a spring activated clamp holster which could be quickly mounted and detached from the belt of an individual. Such apparatus was reliant on the pressure of the spring holding the clamp down and if suitable pressure were placed on the spring the holster could be dislodged or lost from the mounting.

The present invention with its cam latch and locking pin construction, however, allows double lock protection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention with the clamp in open position;

FIG. 2 is the cross-sectional view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 with the clamp in a closed position;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the invention shown in FIG. 2 with partial sections of the holster removed;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 disclosing the frame member secured to the holster;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention showing the clamp in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the invention shown in FIG. 5 showing the clamp in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 discloses an exploded view of the components of the clamp shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8a shows an alternate embodiment of a cam apparatus that can be used in the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention with the clamp in an open position;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 with the clamp in a closed position;

FIG. 11 is a partial side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a partial side view of an alternate locking mechanism of the invention; and

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of a ski lift clamp embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the invention a holster or receptacle 20 is secured to an inverted substantially U-shaped frame member 22 of a clamp mechanism 21. While the receptacle 20 is disclosed in the form of a gun holster the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular form of the receptacle illustrated but may be applied to any type of receptacle such as a knife sheath, night stick case, handcuff case, boy scout equipment, lineman s and electricians tool sheath, axe sheath, bags or other receptacle which may be desired to be attached on the clothing of an individual. The frame member 22 of the clamp mechanism 21 is permanently secured to the receptacle 20 by riveting, stitching, adhesive or other suitable means and through its novel structure it is constructed to allow the receptacle to be quickly and easily mounted on a belt or strap 24. It should be noted that when a strap 24 as shown by the dashed lines in FIGS. 2, 6 and 10 is used, the clamp mechanism 21 when closed extends around the strap making the locking action very effective. The clamp mechanism 21 holds the receptacle 20 in place against accidental displacement from the mounted position on the strap while at the same time permits easy removal or attachment in response to the desire or inclination of the wearer without requiring opening of the strap or other cumbersome manipulations of the strap. The preferred embodiment of the clamp mechanism 21 has a substantially U-shaped or J-shaped frame member 22 having a flange or projection 26 integrally formed thereon. The frame is preferably made of heavy spring metal but can be constructed of plastic or other suitable material. The flange 26 basically is a projection which extends perpendicularly from the plane of the front wall of the frame member 22 towards the rear wall of the frame which is secured to receptacle 20. The belt or strap 24 is seated on the top of the projection and rests against the inner surface of the front wall of the frame 22. A

hinge 28 is formed in or secured to the U-shaped frame member preferably at the bend of the U-shaped member to rotatably hold a spring arm 30 which is mounted in the hinge 28 and projects down into the interior of the U-shaped frame. A cam 32 is movably or rotatably secured to the frame member so that it may be rotated or moved by means of a cam lever 34 secured to the cam. The frame member 22 is provided with an opening 23 in registry with the cam 32, the opening being greater than the size of the cam 32. When the cam 34 is moved the cam rotates through the opening 23 in frame 22, causing the cam surface to abut against the spring arm 30, driving the spring arm which is constructed of spring steel or other suitable resilient material towards the projection 26 and against the strap to hold the strap 24 snugly in place. The cam 32 is preferably secured to the frame member 22 by means of a a cam pin 33 and eye bracket structure 35. The cam 32 can have a ratchet surface 36 such as that shown in FIG. 8 or a surface 37 such as that shown in FIG. 8a with an aperture 38 which is adapted to receive a locking means 39.

The locking means 39 is constructed and arranged so that it will releasably lock the receptacle in place on the strap once thr receptacle 20 has been positioned. Referring more specifically to the locking means referred to, it comprises a pin 40 having a head 42, a body 43 forming an enlargement 44 which limits the amount of vertical movement of the pin, and a locking end 45 which is adapted to fit into the ratchet teeth of the cam or into an aperture which is provided in the face of the cam to lock the cam into position. A biasing Spring 46 is positioned around the pin 40 with one end abutting against one of the pin guide members 47 and the other end being attached, mounted or abutting against enlargement 44. The spring 46 of the locking means drives the lock pin 40 downward into either an aperture in the cam or into the ratchet teeth of the cam to hold the cam in position.

On the side of the receptacle next to the gun the cam pin 33 is fixed on each side of a bracket or hole cut through the U-shaped frame member 22. The pin passes through the cam 32 which preferably has a leather covered lever 32 attached thereto which extends from the large side of the cam. The cam is so arranged that when the lever is thrown down parallel or substantially flush with the side of the holster, the cam exerts pressure on the spring arm which is hinged at the bend of the inverted U-shaped frame member. The spring arm is driven into the strap 24 and exerts pressure upon the strap locking the receptacle into position. The spring loaded locking pin is urged downward by the spring means 46 through an extruded groove in the frame member and eyes of the guide members 47 and snaps into an aperture 38 in the cam or the ratchet teeth formed in the top of the cam. It should be noted that the drawings disclose the pin 40 removed from the frame member and not slidably mounted in a groove so that the action of the pin can be readily seen. However, in the preferred embodiment the pin 40 slidably rests in the groove of the frame member 22. The pin is held down in the aperture or ratchet teeth by the coil spring 46 around the pin pushing against the enlargement 44 near the bottom of the body of the pin from its spring seat on the bottom of the top eye guide member 47. When the clamping mechanism is desired to be released, the head 42 of the lock pin is pulled upward compressing the spring and disen gaging the lock end 45 from the ratchet teeth or aper- I ture of the cam. The cam lever 34 is rotated in a clockwise direction in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4 and 9-11 and counterclockwise direction in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 to remove the pressure on the spring arm 30 so that the spring arm is no longer held to the strap by the cam so that the holster or receptacle can be removed from the belt or strap.

In addition to the lock means previously described, it is also envisioned that an alternative locking machanism can be used such as the one shown in FIG. 12. This alternative locking mechanism comprises an extruded eye 82 secured to the frame 22 and extruded outward from the holster body. The pin or latch support 84 is moveably secured to a cross latch member 86 and is secured to the extruded eye so that it can be moved vertically but not horizontally. The cross latch member 86 acts as a spring with regard to the eye 82 and is continuously biased downward due to its spring steel construction. When the cam is desired to be disengaged, the cross latch member 86 is lifted upward against its spring action and the latch of the cam is then rotated to disengage the cam from the spring arm so that the article is released.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-7, a projection 50 is secured to the inner surface of the rear wall of the frame member and the spring arm 30 is rotatably mounted away from the receptacle on the bend of the U-shaped member. The cam and lock means is reversed from the previous embodiment and is mounted on the front wall of the frame member 22. The cam and lever lock is positioned on the front frame wall or side away from the holster or receptacle next to the wearers body. In this embodiment, the strap retainer projection 50 is an integral part of the frame member located opposite its position on the previous embodiment.

An advantage of this particular embodiment is that it locks onto the belt or strap or almost any place and cannot be removed until the pin lock has been lifted up freeing the cam lever so that the cam lever latch can be swung up. The holster can be quickly detached and will not slip in any direction nor can it be pulled off accidentally. This particular embodiment is also ideal for wearing inside the belt or waistband or inside the breast pocket with a reinforced pad. It should be noted that the embodiment can be attached or removed without removing the gun from the holster, knife from the sheath or article from the receptacle.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-ll, a cam 60 is secured to the holster or receptacle 20 and the holster body serves as the cam lever to drive the cam against the spring arm 30 to hold the strap 24 in place. The bottom part of the U-shaped frame is rotatably connected to the holster around the axle hinge 62 of the cam on each side of the cam and the driving lever on the cam flares out into the metal base 64 of the gun when locked into position. An identical locking means to the previous embodiments is used on this embodiment.

The mounting clamp of the invention provides for the detachment and attachment of a receptacle on a belt or strap by the person of the wearer. However, the clamp of the present invention can be utilized to attach the receptacle on clothing items other than a belt of strap. For example, the receptacle can be attached to the edge of a coat pocket or on a pair of trousers or any other suitable support means.

In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention the clamp is envisioned as attached to the chair of a ski lift. In this embodiment as shown in FIG. 13, the spring member 90 is of a substantially semi-circular configuration which allows it to be placed around a cable 92. Enough of the spring member is cut away to allow the cable 92 to ride over a pulley mechanism without bumping. One portion of the spring member 90 has inwardly projecting teeth 94 which allows it to securely engage the cable 92. A spring arm 96 of a pre ferred slightly arcuate configuration is rotatably secured to the spring member 90 near the midpoint of the spring member body. The section of the spring member 90 which extends away from the spring arm 96 at the spring arm connection 97 serves as a lever 98. The spring arm 96 preferably has integral teeth 97 projecting from its inner surface which are utilized to engage the cable 92 when the spring arm is driven into the cable by a cam lever arrangement. Mounted on the lever 98 is a cam 100 having either a plurality of ratchet teeth 102 or an aperture not shown. Lock means 106 are mounted on the spring member lever section in the same manner as previously set forth so that a lock pin can be engaged with the cam, ratchet teeth or aperture to lock the cam in place once the cam has driven the spring arm against the cable to engage the cable.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment since it may be otherwise embodied in the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A holster clamp combination for removably securing a holster on a strap, comprising a holster, a substantially U-shaped frame secured to said holster, said U- shaped frame defining an aperture therein constructed to receive a strap, a belt stop member secured to one wall of said U-shaped frame projecting away from said wall into said aperture, a spring arm pivotally mounted on said U-shaped frame, cam means rotably mounted to said U-shaped frame, said cam means comprising a substantially rounded cam body defining a rounded outer surface with a part of the surface forming a ratchet configuration and a cam lever secured to said cam body said cam lever being adapted to rotate said cam body through said frame aperture against said spring arm to drive said spring arm toward a wall of said frame to engage a strap positioned in said frame, and releasable locking means mounted to said frame, said releasable locking means comprising at least one guide member defining a groove, a locking pin slidably mounted in said guide member groove and spring means connected to said locking pin to bias said locking pin into engagement with said cam and being adapted to hold said cam means in a locked position against said spring arm.

2. A holster clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt stop member is secured to one end of said U- shaped frame and projects inwardly toward said holster.

3. A holster clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt stop member is secured to one wall of said U- shaped frame and projects inwardly away from said holster.

4. A holster clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking pin comprises a body having a head on one end and a locking projection on its other end with a circular spring seat placed on said body to hold said spring 

1. A holster clamp combination for removably securing a holster on a strap, comprising a holster, a substantially U-shaped frame secured to said holster, said U-shaped frame defining an aperture therein constructed to receive a strap, a belt stop member secured to one wall of said U-shaped frame projecting away from said wall into said aperture, a spring arm pivotally mounted on said U-shaped frame, cam means rotably mounted to said U-shaped frame, said cam means comprising a substantially rounded cam body defining a rounded outer surface with a part of the surface forming a ratchet configuration and a cam lever secured to said cam body said cam lever being adapted to rotate said cam body through said frame aperture against said spring arm to drive said spring arm toward a wall of said frame to engage a strap positioned in said frame, and releasable locking means mounted to said frame, said releasable locking means comprising at least one guide member defining a groove, a locking pin slidably mounted in said guide member groove and spring means connected to said locking pin to bias said locking pin into engagement with said cam and being adapted to hold said cam means in a locked position against said spring arm.
 2. A holster clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt stop member is secured to one end of said U-shaped frame and projects inwardly toward said holster.
 3. A holster clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt stop member is secured to one wall of said U-shaped frame and projects inwardly away from said holster.
 4. A holster clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking pin comprises a body having a head on one end and a locking projection on its other end with a circular spring seat placed on said body to hold said spring means. 